Tadej Pogacar has withdrawn from the Vuelta a Espana after a crash, his UAE Team Emirates team announced on Saturday. The Slovenian rider, who was aiming to become the first man to win all three Grand Tours in a single season, abandoned the race ahead of stage 14.
Crash details
The 27-year-old came down in a high-speed spill during Friday's stage 13, suffering abrasions to his left side. He finished the stage but was unable to start the next day's leg after medical examination revealed no fractures but significant bruising.
Pogacar had been second overall, 1min 24sec behind race leader Ben O'Connor, after winning three stages. His exit leaves the general classification wide open, with O'Connor now holding a 2min 12sec lead over Primoz Roglic.
Season impact
The withdrawal ends Pogacar's bid to add the Vuelta to his Tour de France and Giro d'Italia victories this year. He had already become the first rider since 2010 to win the Giro-Tour double, and the Vuelta was the final leg of an unprecedented treble attempt.
UAE Team Emirates said Pogacar will return home to recover and will target the world championships in Zurich later this month.
